"Out with the old, in with the new!"
Along with this quote, an image of an old man and a baby show up each year around New Year's Eve. It shows the hope and 'newness' of the coming year, a chance to start over with fresh outlook. Of course, many New Year's resolutions don't often stick - mainly because we don't really let go of the old. We try to slap on a new, shiny mask to our old beliefs and attitudes. Eventually, the facade wears off and the old habits return.
Like painting a house or a car, you can't just slap on new pain to an old car unless the surface is properly prepared and primed beforehand.
Same with the Inner Life. To start a new habit or behavior, you must first make sure the old habits of thinking and acting are de-activated. Otherwise, they will soon return you to your previous ways of being.